Updated 6/9/2021

We are more than one year into this pandemic and many of our arts and cultural organizations are still struggling to reopen and provide work for the many working artists our region supports. Below are several updates and opportunities available at this point.

 

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal is open and still accepting applications!

SBA will announce Priority 1 (90% or more gross income loss) round of awards by late May. Priority 2 in mid June and Priority 3 in late June. In order to facilitate receiving the proceeds, SBA will follow the protocols described at www.grants.gov for awardees to request federal funds, submit progress reports, and certify and agree to terms and conditions. As a reminder, unless you also submitted your 2020 tax return, you will not receive the lump sum of your award. You will likely receive your SVOG funds in disbursements of up to 4 payments.

You can read more in the SBA’s Post-SVOG Application FAQ’s sheet.

In preparation for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal, follow the steps below. Remember to register on the portal in advance.

For technical assistance such as a password reset, browser suggestions, or how to use the multi-factor authentication with an app and the QR code, applicants can call 1-800-659-2955 or, for the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1-800-877-8339 and follow the prompts to SVOG assistance. The call center is now open 24/7.

You can also find local assistance through one of the SBA’s resource partners. Find a local resource partner here.

National Endowment for the Arts: American Rescue Plan Funding

On March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, which includes $135 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support organizations and recover jobs in the arts industry that have been impacted by the pandemic. Of this total pot of funding, 40% is begin distributed to regional and state arts agencies, like NYSCA, to be distributed through their funding programs.

The NEA is in the process of developing guidelines and application materials for this competitive funding process that accessible, fair, and equitable for all nonprofit arts organizations across the country. This funding will be able to cover general operating costs and none of the funding will require cost share or matching funds from grantees.

Click here to learn more about the fund and keep checking back for updates.

Humanities New York: American Rescue Plan Funding

Humanities New York releases new grant guidelines to distribute American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding to New York cultural nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over $1.5 million dollars in funding will be made available, in the form of small grants up to $20,000, which will reach every region of New York.

This new grant opportunity complements the NEH American Rescue Plan: Humanities Organizations funding opportunity, which offers relief grants of up to $500,000 to many larger organizations across the country and in New York.

HNY SHARP Recovery Grants will be distributed in two rounds: HNY SHARP Operating Grants provide up to $20,000 in unrestricted funds to organizations with core humanities missions. HNY SHARP Action Grants offer up to $10,000 for the implementation of humanities projects.

Application guidelines are available now on the HNY website. The deadline for SHARP Operating Grants is July 9th, with applicants being informed of funding decisions by September 7th, 2021. The SHARP Action Grant application will open on August 2nd, 2021 with a deadline of October 1st, 2021. HNY staff will offer a free informational webinar about the HNY SHARP opportunities on Tuesday, June 15th at 2:00 pm.

Advocacy

You can join the national conversation about how to Put Creative Workers to Work to stimulate the national economy.

To thrive post-pandemic, we must leverage our creative power by putting creative workers to work rebuilding, reimagining, unifying, and healing communities in every state and territory, as well as within tribal lands. There is a new website that includes everything you would need to know about the Put Creative Workers to Work policy platform, including talking points, coalition and endorsers list, and action steps. It features 16 specific actions that the Administration can take—and you can advocate for—to activate the creative economy within a comprehensive national recovery strategy. Areas of focus include:

  • Engage in, and drive, direct employment of creative workers.
  • Drive local, state, and private sector activation of creative workers.
  • Adjust existing policies to recognize creative workers as workers.
  • Integrate creative interventions into response, recovery, and resilience programs.
  • Support access to arts, culture, and arts education.

On a local level, you can always (and should) reach out to your local elected officials to talk to them about what they can do to help. Our elected officials need to hear from us to know what is most important to their constituents.

You can find your local representatives at the links below or search for your city/town representatives.

Other Resources

We keep updated lists of funding opportunities and resources on our website. We have an entire menu dedicated to COVID-19 support and relief, which includes Emergency Grants, Reopening Resources, and more. We also have several opportunities pages that provide additional Funding opportunities, Careers, Calls for Work, and Residencies and Studios.

Individual artists can also join our Facebook group to learn about and share even more opportunities.